BVC-CHAT Thanks (And now for something completely different)

[Huebner, Lenae]

Jean-Marie - 

I don't know how to help at this point pursuing getting helmet at little or
no cost to this group, but with some direction, would be willing to help the
team that takes on this project.

I can also remember my own days of 'casual' bike riding when I didn't wear a
helmet.  Seems like a long time ago - but it wasn't.  Let's help not only
educate but solve the issue.

L

-----Original Message-----
From: bvc-chat-bounces at grimpeur.tamu.edu
[mailto:bvc-chat-bounces at grimpeur.tamu.edu]On Behalf Of drjinx at texas.net
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 10:39 AM
To: bvc-chat at grimpeur.tamu.edu
Subject: Re: BVC-CHAT Thanks (And now for something completely
different)


> On Mon, Mar 15, 2004 at 09:20:44AM -0600, Jean Marie Linhart wrote:
> > One observation of mine was that all the kids had helmets but few of the
> > adults did.  (Let me admit my eyes almost rolled and a few thoughts
about
> > leading by example crossed my mind.  Hopefully I surpressed the
sarcastic
> > streak when I asked about it.)  They said price was an issue with this
after
> > buying 3 kids helmets you save money by skipping your own....

Chris Menzel wrote: 
> Hmm, lessee, cost of helmet vs cost of insurance deductible...hmm...
> 
> Not to mention the fact that you might not be able to, say, ADD or DRESS
> YOURSELF anymore.
> 
> I'd say they deserved a good eye roll!  :-)

Yes, but non cyclists really don't understand how cycling
is both safer than they think and more dangerous than they think.
The adults in question are probably thinking -- kids ride
erratically and are prone to fall down, they need a helmet.
I'm and adult, and I'm not going to fall, so I don't goes
the logic.  

They don't realize that a moment of inattention at 10 miles
per hour and one good pothole or expansion gap in the concrete
is all it takes to have a fall.  They don't understand how riding
on the sidewalk with pedestrians and having a pedestrian move 
erratically (as pedestrians do) is all it takes to cause an accident.
Or riding too close to a parked car when a door opens.  Most injuries 
from bicycling are falls, not than vehicle crashes, but that helmet is 
a big huge protector on both. Admittedly, these aren't often 
life-threatening crashes, thank goodness, but you can get good and hurt 
(and, if you hit your head without a helmet, *really hurt*).  
Meanwhile the non-riding  adults (and even some riding adults) are 
terrified of getting hit from behind, which we know 
is only a very small accident risk (I can get some better numbers
if anyone cares, I believe this is in the <5% of all accidents range).

I won't comment on the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do phenomenon.  I 
hope here my actions speak for my opinion! 

Jean
Marie

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